The American Riding System

About the Book

The American Riding System is a basic foundation system for all types of riding. This book has been structured into grades to combine the flat work with the jumping at each level. I started writing this manuscript for my own use to keep my lessons organized, systemized and categorized. In the mid 70s, my riding lessons were my life. I taught riding as well as continued with my riding education and kept a notebook on all of my lessons. My instructors were George Morris and his assistants, Frank Chapot and Major Dezo Szilagyi. For five years, George allowed me to sit in fields with him and take notes while watching him teach. This was a tremendous asset to my teaching skills

About the Author

Peggy DeForte Vurgason started riding at the age of two, under her father’s supervision. During the 1960’s, her family was active with the Delaware Valley Horseman’s Association in Lambertville NJ. Peggy started showing at the age of 9 with her pony Mitch. A few years later, she entered the show ring with her beloved horse Hootenanny, and won many ribbons including the Henry Bergh National Championship, sponsored by the ASPCA. During her teenage years, Peggy was a member of the Kingwood Fox Hounds Pony Club in Hunterdon County NJ and the Clover Club of Ewingville 4H Club in Mercer County NJ. At the age of fifteen, Peggy started giving riding lessons to children in her neighborhood. Other facilities where Peggy taught include Timberlane Horse Center, Patricelli’s Farm, Hunt Cap Farm and Weidel Boxwood Farm. The system that Peggy teaches is a foundation for all types of riding. Her students have branched into several different disciplines in the equine world, including hunters, jumpers, dressage, eventing, racing and breaking and training. Peggy and her husband George are active members of Delaware Valley Horseman’s Association. Peggy shows her horse, Homerun Joe and George rides and drives his draft mule Billy John. They live in Hopewell Twp NJ and have three sons, Aaron, Joe and Seb. Peggy is also the author of “Hootenanny’s Spirit” a novel about Hootenanny, the beloved horse she grew up with.